Color-changing and signaling device.



No. 673,893. Patantad- May 14, l90l.

H. M. BAKER, In. &. A. W. FQX. COLOR CHANGING AND SIGNALING DEVICE.

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No. 673,893. Patented May I4, l90l.

H. M. BAKER, 1R. & A. W. FOX.

COLOR CHANGING ANO SIGNALING DEVICE.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Patented May I I4, l90l. IR. &. A. W. FOX.

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Wuv/nbom/ ms Pzrcns ca. PHOTO-L THO wumnc'ruu o c ME 'rATEs HAYDN M.BAKER, JR, AND ARTHUR W. FOX, or NEW YORK, (BROOKLYN,) NEW YORK.

COLOR-CHANGING AND SIGNALING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,893, dated May 14,1901.

g li ti fi1 d August 8, 1900. Serial No. 26,222. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HAYDN M. BAKER, Jr. and ARTHUR W. FOX, citizens ofthe United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of NewYork, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Color-Changing and Signaling Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in color-wheels and signalingdevices in which a color-wheel is caused to revolve by mechanismoperated by electricity; and the objects of our improvements are tothrow different colors on a theatrical stage or on performers or to sendsignals and also to control the movements and positions of thecolorwheel from a distance, as from the stage of a theater, when thewheel is located elsewhere. We attain these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a frontview of the mechanism for operating the color-wheel, with the wheelremoved. Fig. 2 is a vertical and part-sectional view of the same withthe wheel included. Fig. 3 is a side View of the entire apparatus, andFig. 4 is a front view of the same.

Similar letters relate to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, the apparatus is portable and provided with a base 13 andsupporting-frame B It has a color-wheel W, provided with sectional orcircular spaces for color-sheets of different colors to producedifferent color effects. These sheets are located at regular intervalsand, as shown or provided for, are four in number, but may be six ormore in number, as may be desired, the moving and stopping mechanismbeing adapted to effect the corresponding number of changes. Theoperating mechanism has for the most part the efiecting of these changesand is operated by electricity, and consequently the apparatus maybelocated at a distance from the stage and the operator and yet be inperfect control.

W is the color-wheel.

M is a helix with a core 0. M is the unlocking-magnet.

G and G are gear-Wheels operated by or through a bolt B, lever L, andpins P and held or stopped by the locking-lever L and stops P. The leverL is provided with the arms A and A. Its functions are to engage,

hold, and release the pins P, and consequently the gear-wheel G,whereupon the looking-lever takes charge of the gear-wheel G. The leverL is lifted and held out of action or allowed to act by the arm A andpin P which are given the requisite motions to that end.

The color-wheel W and the gear-wheel G are located on the journal oraxle F. A lens 0 is located so as to transmit light through thecolor-sheets O placed in openings in the color-wheel.

The gear-wheel G is located on or carried by the stud F and is providedon one side with the pins P, placed at regular distances apart for thepurpose of controlling the positions of the color-sheets and aperturesin the wheel W. The sliding bolt or arm B, which is carried on or by thelever L, is operated by the core C in the helix M and has a bearing onthe pins P for the purpose of moving the gear-Wheel G, the lever L beingpivoted to the frame F at F and holding bolt in the proper position toeffect the object. The contact of the bolt B with any one of the pins Pcauses the gear-Wheel G to revolve, and, the gear-wheel G meshing withthe gear-wheel G, the latter revolves with the gear-wheel G and carriesthe color-wheel W or signal device, which is attached directly to,operated by, or carried on the same axle as the gear-wheel G.

The gear-Wheel G is provided with four stop-pins P, and as thegear-wheel G revolves the stop-pins P are each in turn engaged in thenotch N, the nose of the pawl A being beveled, so as to lift it over thepins P, and the notch receiving the pins P, over Which the spring-pawl Arides, the spring S being attached at one end to a part of the frame Fand at the other to the end of the lever L. When not engaged by the pinsP, the lever L is held out of engagement by the arm A, attached to thelever L, making contact with the pin P located on the lever L. Theshoulder on the lever L, forming one side of the notch N, prevents thegear-wheel G moving in one direction and the hook part of the pawl Aprevents it from moving in the opposite direction.

The pawl A is pivoted on the lever L at F and is normally held againstthe stop pin P by the spring S, and the purpose is to prevent the pawlfrom going too far forward or across the path of the pins P. The springS causes the pawl A to assume its normal position as soon as the pin Phas come in contact with the bottom of the notch in the lever L.

The downward movement of the core 0 and lever L moves the gear-wheel G,and after its downward stroke the lever L, upon the shutting off of theelectric current, is lifted and returned to its original position bytheaction of the spring S, carrying with it the bolt B, which, beingbeveled from'above downward and outwardly, on making contact with eitherof the pins P on the under side retreats in its carrier B, and after thebolt passes said pin P the bolt is forced forward again by the spring Sso that its under side rests against the top of the next pin P and inposition for a repetition of the movement for revolving the gear-wheelG.

The locking armature-lever L is pivoted on the frame F at F and isprovided with a notch N for engagement with the pins P on the gear-WheelG for the purpose of holding the gear-wheel G and the color-wheel intheir fixed positions. The locking armature-lever L is held in itslocking position by the spring S and is caused to unlock by the magnetM.

. The magnet M operates simultaneously with the helix M when the circuitis closed and the core 0 is started on its downward stroke, and thearmature-lever L is at the same time raised from contact with the pinsP. When the current is again broken and the core C is on its return orupward stroke, the lever L so returns to its normal or looking positionunder the control of the spring S as described. The magnet M and thehelix M are connected in series and receive their energy through thewires W and W The connection of the core 0 with the lever L isaccomplished by means of the pin P working in the slot T, provided inthe core 0, the pin P being attached to the bolt-carrier B.

The bolt B is provided with a stop or stoppin P for the purpose ofpreventing the bolt from advancing too far over the path of the pins P.

The frame F is provided with an opening 0, Fig. 1, in which is fitted alens 0, Fig. 2, back of which is located the source of illumination, andthe color-wheel being located in front of the lens the light passesthrough the color-sheets and assumes the different colors desired. Areflector may be substituted back of the light in place of the lens.

Where the apparatus is to be used for signaling, different letters,numbers, or other characters may be used instead of the colors withoutthe use of the lens or reflector, the said letters, numbers, orcharacters being painted or otherwise placed upon or in the wheel W.

We have shown and described a color or signal wheel having four colorsor signals and mechanism provided with two gear-wheels, one with fourand the other with six pins, spaced to give and receive the requisiteimpulses and motions from the core C. When six or more colors or signalsare used, the gear-wheel G may be omitted and the colorwheel W may thenbe secured directly to the gear-wheel G on the same journal, and in thatcase the required or a corresponding number of pins should be placed onthe wheel G, which may then be a mere disk without teeth. Thelocking-lever L should then be located and related to the disk G and thepins P thereon so as to hold the disk and color-wheel W in position forproper service, and the position of the magnet M should be changedaccordingly.

Instead of the lever L and its associated parts an arm or block may besecured to the lever L at or near the location of the pin P as shown inFig. 1, and extended so that its outer end reaches to and over thepathway of the pins P, with which it may make proper contact andengagements to enable it to hold the wheel or disk G until thelocking-lever L can take hold of the pin P, so as to detain the disk.When the circuit is broken, the core 0 rises and the block is liftedwith the lever L and from engagement with apin P of that wheel or disk.In addition a stop lever or pawl, pivoted on the frame F and providedwith a flat spring that forces it against the pins P until they passbeyond the end of the pawl-stop, whereupon the end of the pawl drops inbelow the pin and prevents the disk G from rebound or reverse movement,is to be added. This arrangement and substitution may be used where thetwo gear-wheels G and G are present or where only a disk is used, asstated, in the place of the gear-wheel G.

We claim as our invention 1. In an apparatus for producing lighteffects, the combination with a source of light, a color-wheel andelectromagnetic means for rotating and stopping the said wheel at anydesired point, consisting of a solenoid connected to and rotatinga trainof gearing carrying said wheel and a magnet to hold the said wheel infixed position, said magnet and solenoid being in series andsimultaneously operated for the purpose set forth and substantially asdescribed.

2. In an apparatus for producing light effects, the combination with asource of light, a color-wheel and electromagnetic means for rotatingand stopping the said wheel at any desired point, consisting of asolenoid connected to and rotating a disk carrying said wheel and amagnet to hold the said wheel in IIO fixed position, said magnet andsolenoid being in series and simultaneously operated for the purpose setforth and substantially as described.

3. In color-Wheels and signaling devices, a wheel W, helix M, core 0,lever L, gear-Wheel G, pins P, bolt B, gear-Wheel G, stop-pins P, pawlA, levers L and L and magnet M, in combination.

4. In color-Wheels and signaling devices, a color-wheel W, secured to adisk, a solenoid connected to and rotating the disk by means ofa leverL, bolt B and pins P, a stop-lever L, a locking-lever L engaging thepins, and

a magnet M controlling the locking-lever, 15

substantially as shown and described.

5. In color-wheels and signaling devices, a color-Wheel, secured to adisk, a solenoid connected to and rotating the disk by means of alever,bolt and pins, a stop-lever, a lockinglever engaging the pins, and amagnet controlling the locking-lever, substantially as shown anddescribed.

I-IAYDN M. BAKER, JR. ARTHUR W. FOX. Witnesses:

EDWARD S. BERRALL, JAMES A. SKILTON.

